Deriving Expert Knowledge of Situational Awareness in Policing: a Mixed-Methods Study

Abstract Situational awareness (SA) is the most important skill required by police to effectively assess and respond encounters, including critical incidents. Incomplete or sub-optimal SA strategies can lead errors in subsequent judgement, decision-making, action, tactics use of force (UOF). Errors UOF, especially lethal force, training operational field settings, have severe consequences for learning, occupational health, public safety. Therefore, adequately defining instructing an gap fill existing applied literature practice. Using a mixed-methods approach, current study aimed define conceptualize police-specific contexts. Participants included 23 novice trainees 11 experienced officers instructors UOF. were shown 13 static images various staged ranging from non-threatening high-threat. Following each image, participants interviewed asked describe what they saw how would respond. Thematic analyses interview data revealed following seven themes that are highly interrelated more completely SA: distance/time laws; partner/roles; profiling suspect; tactical options opportunities; ongoing assessment own activities outcomes; surrounding environment conditions; dangerous objects. Expert provided detailed multidimensional descriptions statistical confirmed experts identified compared novices. By making tacit knowledge visible, findings establish professional standard formation, which inform evidence-based SA, UOF while improving